Hallmark For All Seasons

Miracles of Christmas 2021

Our Christmas Journey

“Our Christmas Journey,” aired on December 4, as part of 2021’s Miracles of Christmas on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Channel. It starred Holly Robinson Peete, Lyriq Bent and Nik Sanchez. It was originally titled, “The Christmas Bond,” but I think the new title is much better.

The movie was filmed in Vancouver, as well as Abbotsford, which at this point should feel like everyone’s quaint, friendly hometown given how much that town is used for Hallmark movies!

Kevin Fair directed this movie, written by Marcy Holland and Camille Thomasson. Holland has written several scripts for Hallmark, including 2018’s “Christmas Everlasting,” and three of the “Time For (insert pronoun here)” movies, while Thomasson wrote “The Magic of Ordinary Days,” all the way back in 2005.

This year’s Christmas movie posters started out so strong, but this is another one that is hardly Christmas at all. They threw a tree and wreath in the background and called it a day.

In a nutshell

While I appreciated the storyline about a mom of a child with autism learning how to let to in order to let him grow, I was actually more invested in the daughter’s friendship with Misha and learning how to feel seen even when believes she’s not.

The Plot of “Our Christmas Journey”

As a single mom and her teenaged son with autism come to a crossroad during Christmas, she must learn to let go so he can flourish as she finds her own heart healing in unexpected ways.

Actors & Chemistry

I thought the entire cast was great and worked really well together. I definitely got a sense that these people were family. The one that really shined for me was Hilda Martin, who played daughter Mia. It’s hard to believe this was her first movie – she was fabulous and natural in every scene. Not only that, but her pairing with Anthony Timpano, who played Misha, was the one pairing I felt had real chemistry. TImpano has also been in It Was Always You and last year’s Love, Lights, Hanukah!.

I also liked how Nik Sanchez interacted with his fellow actors, including a very sweet scene between him and Hilda Martin (pictured below).

Tropes

There were a fair number of tropes on display. The movie began with a big city drone shot, followed almost immediately by a baking scene. The guest house of Hope Hills had a front porch. We had some product placement following by tree decorating. There was an adorable dog named Lucy. Many scenes took place at the Christmas market. We had some crafting courtesy of wreath making. Maya and Misha made snow angels. Everyone attended a dance and danced to Christmas carols. There was an almost kiss, and a tree lighting. We also had a couple people sing Christmas carols. And lastly, a Christmas pageant on Christmas Eve.

Did I Hear/See That Right?

My main point of contention with this movie is with the fact that Lena was SUCH a control freak regarding everything about Marcus (as pointed out during Mia’s conversation with Misha in which she said her mother’s main interest (versus piano, painting or flowers) was Marcus) that there’s no way she went into the trip to the children’s home without knowing EVERYthing about what was going to take place – including the fact that Marcus would be staying in the dorm and away from his family while the assessment was taking place. Lena would have had their entire website printed out and highlighted to prompt questions.

Feelgoods

Since the movie was really gunning for viewers to feel tugs of the heart. I found that I didn’t really have many of those moments. The one that did get me, even if it was farfetched, was the scene where the dad gave Marcus a shave. I thought that was really sweet and unexpected.

I also appreciated that Nik Sanchez, who played Marcus, is an actor with autism versus an actor playing someone who is autistic.

Re-watchability of “Our Christmas Journey”

Serious Hallmark movies typically don’t get a rewatch, so I won’t rewatch this one.

The Ranking

“Our Christmas Journey” earned a ton of points for cast chemistry which brought it up to the upper half of movies for the year.

An Unexpected Christmas (air date: Nov 26) – 736 pts – weighted score: 123.0 (86.3%)
A Dickens of a Holiday! (air date: Dec 11) – 735 pts – weighted score: 122.3 (85.8%)
The Santa Stakeout (air date: Oct 24) – 730 pts – weighted score: 122.3 (85.8%)
A Christmas Family Tree (air date: Nov 14) – 730 pts – weighted score: 121.9 (85.5%)
You, Me and The Christmas Trees (air date: Oct 22) – 716 pts – weighted score: 121.3 (85.1%)
The Christmas House 2: Deck Those Halls (air date: Dec 18) – 710 pts – weighted score: 118.8 (83.4%)
Crashing Through The Snow (air date: July 10) – 705 pts – weighted score: 118.1 (82.8%)
The Nine Kittens of Christmas (air date: Nov 25) – 690 pts – weighted score: 116.5 (81.8%)
One December Night (air date: Nov 13) – 695 pts – weighted score: 116.3 (81.6%)
A Mrs. Miracle Christmas (air date: Nov 6) – 688 pts – weighted score: 116.2 (81.5%)
Every Time a Bell Rings (air date: Nov 1) – 687 pts – weighted score: 116.2 (81.5%)
Boyfriends of Christmas Past (air date: Oct 23) – 673 pts – weighted score: 116.1 (81.5%)
A Royal Queens Christmas (air date: Dec 11) – 690 pts – weighted score: 115.3 (80.9%)
Next Stop, Christmas (air date: Nov 6) – 682 pts – weighted score: 114.7 (80.5%)
It Was Always You (air date: Feb 27) – 668 pts – weighted score: 114.2 (80.1%)
The Christmas Promise (air date: Oct 30) – 675 pts – weighted score: 114.1 (80.0%)
Gingerbread Miracle (air date: Nov 5) – 671 pts – weighted score: 114.0 (80.0%)
Christmas In My Heart (air date: Oct 23) – 675 pts – weighted score: 113.9 (79.9%)
A Kiss Before Christmas (air date: Nov 21) – 671 pts – weighted score: 111.9 (78.5%)
Open at Christmas (air date: Nov 12) – 658 pts – weighted score: 111.6 (78.3%)
You Had Me At Aloha (air date: June 5) – 675 pts – weighted score: 111.4 (78.1%)
A Christmas Together With You (air date: Nov 20) – 645 pts – weighed score: 110.9 (77.8%)
Five More Minutes (air date: Nov 21) – 645 pts – weighted score: 110.8 (77.7%)
Sweet Carolina (air date: May 15) – 648 pts – weighted score: 110.1 (77.2%)
A Very Merry Bridesmaid (air date: Dec 4) – 644 pts – weighted score: 109.5 (76.8%)
One Summer (air date: Oct 3) – 637 pts – weighted score: 109.2 (76.6%)
Taking a Shot at Love (air date: Jan 2) – 641 pts – weighted score: 108.9 (76.4%)
Christmas in Tahoe (air date: Nov 28) – 653 pts – weighted score: 108.7 (76.3%)
Don’t Go Breaking My Heart (air date: Mar 27) – 636 pts – weighted score: 108.5 (76.1%)
Christmas at Castle Hart (air date: Nov 27) – 639 pts – weighted score: 108.0 (75.8%)
Right in Front of Me (air date: Apr 18) – 637 pts – weighted score: 108.0 (75.8%)
As Luck Would Have It (air date: Apr 10) – 638 pts – weighted score: 107.7 (75.5%)
Our Christmas Journey (air date: Dec 4) – 640 pts – weighted score: 107.5 (75.4%)
Her Pen Pal (air date: June 19) – 636 pts – weighted score: 107.1 (75.1%)
Time for Them to Come Home for Christmas (air date: Nov 27) – 638 pts – weighted score: 106.8 (74.9%)
The Baker’s Son (air date: June 13) – 637 pts – weighted score: 106.3 (74.6%)
The Christmas Contest (air date: Nov 28) – 628 pts – weighted score: 105.9 (74.3%)
South Beach Love (air date: Oct 9) – 615 pts – weighted score: 105.8 (74.2%)
Love Strikes Twice (air date: Oct 2) – 608 pts – weighted score: 105.2 (73.8%)
A Holiday in Harlem (air date: Nov 7) – 628 pts – weighted score: 105.1 (73.7%)
Christmas Sail (air date: Oct 31) – 606 pts – weighted score: 105.1 (73.7%)
Christmas in Harmony (air date: Oct 29) – 605 pts – weighted score: 104.8 (73.5%)
A Christmas Treasure (air date: Nov 7) – 625 pts – weighted score: 104.6 (73.4%)
A Winter Getaway (air date: Jan 23) – 620 pts – weighted score: 104.4 (73.3%)
A Godwink Christmas: Miracle of Love (air date: Dec 11) – 610 pts – weighted score: 104.4 (73.2%)
Coyote Creek Christmas (air date: Oct 30) – 614 pts – weighted score: 104.3 (73.2%)
Love, For Real (air date: July 31) – 607 pts – weighted score: 103.6 (72.7%)
Christmas CEO (air date: Nov 26) – 596 pts – weighted score: 103.5 (72.6%)
Rise and Shine, Benedict Stone (air date: Oct 1) – 595 pts – weighted score: 103.0 (72.2%)
Mix Up in the Mediterranean (air date: Feb 20) – 590 pts – weighted score: 102.5 (71.9%)
Advice to Love By (air date: Oct 16) – 599 pts – weighted score: 102.2 (71.7)
Two For The Win (air date: Jan 16) – 603 pts – weighted score: 101.8 (71.4%)
Taking the Reins (air date: Sept 28) – 574 pts – weighted score: 101.2 (71.0%)
Raise a Glass to Love (air date: Sept 18) – 590 pts – weighted score: 100.7 (70.7%)
Eight Gifts of Hanukkah (air date: Dec 3) – 590 pts – weighted score: 100.3 (70.4%)
Nantucket Noel (air date: Nov 18) – 585 pts – weighted score: 100.3 (70.4%)
Chasing Waterfalls (air date: Mar 20) – 570 pts – weighted score: 100.3 (70.4%)
Roadhouse Romance (air date: Sept 11) – 571 pts – weighted score: 100.2 (70.3%)
Sweet Pecan Summer (air date: ) – 576 pts – weighted score: 97.3 (68.3%)
Sand Dollar Cove (air date: June 26) – 557 pts – weighted score: 96.8 (67.9%)
Hearts Down Under (air date: Apr 24) – 547 pts – weighted score: 95.2 (66.8%)
Fit for a Prince (air date: Mar 6) – 546 pts – weighted score: 94.6 (66.4%)
A New Year’s Resolution (air date: Jan 9) – 516 pts – weighted score: 90.5 (63.5%)
Finding Love in Mountain View (air date: ) – 504 pts – weighted score: 89.5 (62.8%)
A Little Daytime Drama (air date: Aug 21) – 511 pts – weighted score: 87.7 (61.5%)
Baby, It’s Cold Inside (air date: May 8) – 495 pts – weighted score: 85.6 (60.0%)
Playing Cupid (air date: Feb 13) – 466 pts – weighted score: 82.6 (58.0%)
Beverly Hills Wedding (air date: Feb 6) – 431 pts – weighted score: 80.6 (56.5%)
Journey of my Heart (air date: ) – 450 pts – weighted score: 76.0 (53.3%)
Snowkissed (air date: Jan 31) – 402 pts – weighted score: 76.0 (53.3%)